We provide financial accounting services for small businesses.

Starting a business in St. Louis is an exciting undertaking, but it is also an incredible responsibility. Owning a company means handling multiple demands and tasks simultaneously and, regardless of the size of your staff, it can sometimes seem impossible to complete all of the duties necessary to keep your business running smoothly.

We offer complete, high quality accounting and bookkeeping services for businesses in St. Louis. When you choose us to take care of your payroll, accounting, and bookkeeping services, you can concentrate on running your business. We are here to help you manage your business and personal finances so you can avoid making costly mistakes.

Why Choose Us?

When you choose us for all your accounting needs, you can expect to receive the following benefits:

Complete accounting, payroll, and bookkeeping services for your business

Experienced St. Louis accountants who provides excellent customer service

Certified Peachtree accounting services for your small business

A Certified Sage Peachtree Premier Advisor on staff to answer all of your questions

We always keep up with the latest in accounting software, such as Sage Peachtree Accounting and QuickBooks. Owner Art Stumpp is a Sage Accountants Network Certified Premier Advisor and knows exactly what it takes to keep your business heading in the right direction.

By hiring an experienced and knowledgeable bookkeeping and accounting service professional, you can reduce your work load and concentrate on taking your company to the next level.

QuickBooks Enterprise Solution is easy to customize. This accounting software helps business owners run a more efficient operation. Some of the new features that help business owners are inventory management that imports directly into QuickBooks, remote accessibility, excellent support and backup protection. QuickBooks Enterprise allows the business owner to customize reports and give users a new level of control. One can transition from QuickBooks Pro or QuickBooks Premier into QuickBooks Enterprise fairly easily.

QuickBooks Enterprise permits the users to see the data the way they wish to see it by letting one export templates and reports into Excel, and save and reuse them. Reports can be consolidated with other company files and reports to create a high level of customization.

User access is not a problem with QuickBooks Enterprise, one does not have to worry about giving your employees access to sensitive information any longer. One can create customized user accounts and restrict what information they can see over 100 different levels of activities.

Growing businesses do not need to worry about adding users in QuickBooks Enterprise. QuickBooks Enterprise allows up to 30 users simultaneously while still being able to manage thousands of customers, inventory, and vendors. The list limits in QuickBooks Enterprise is larger also which allows for tremendous business growth without changing over to a new system.

Enterprise provides several ways for one to manage their inventory within QuickBooks. These ways are lot tracking, serial number tracking, and tracking multi location inventories by using barcode scanners. This is the best turnkey system for business owners looking for a simple way to manage their inventory.

The accessibility features in Enterprise permits multiple remote users to access your files in real time along with the latest security features to keep your information confidential. Remote access allows one to work and be productive from anywhere on earth and gives the business owner a high degree of flexibility.

QuickBooks Enterprise has a full service plan in its first year. In the United States, the experts will provide technical support, data backup, protection, and updates on an unlimited basis. This plan can really aid businesses as they work through any issue that they encounter with the software.

If one currently is operating under QuickBooks Pro or QuickBooks Premier, upgrading to QuickBooks Enterprise is fairly painless. By opening up your company file in Enterprise, all of your file templates, reports and permissions will move over.

One should use a skilled QuickBooks Enterprise expert to help with the installation. By doing this one will have a much easier time transitioning to QuickBooks Enterprise software.

At St. Louis Accounting Services, we service QuickBooks Enterprise software. If one has questions about QuickBooks Enterprise software or wishes to upgrade or correct any issues in their software, one should not hesitate to call us at 314-718-0956 or email us at art@stlouisaccountingservices.com without delay.

Intuit,the creator of QuickBooks has been committed to providing its customers with state of the art solutions that help them with their accounting requirements. Some of these solutions are forecasting tools that help QuickBooks users to anticipate cash flow issues or other opportunities on the horizon. A new trends widget provides useful information that allows businesses to compare themselves with others in their industry.

The trends widget is in the QuickBooks Online package. Users can compare their business with other businesses based on a number of variables. These variables include the industry, annual income limits, and location. The trends widget then shows the following statistics: average percentage of sales growth, expenses by different types and income by different types. The widget also has the ability to show other statistics that are important to business owners, one example being the percentage of new sales in comparison to sales from existing customers. Other important statistics available include: the ratio of cash flow, the percent profit margin in terms of gross, net, and operating profit, median total income earned the last year or quarter and median total expenses.

The widget is particularly valuable because it provides useful information to business owners that allow them to compare themselves to competitors and other business professionals. Most of the time the only other way to get this information is from hearsay. The widget can also be useful to owners that are interested in expanding their business. The widget can be used to see if the business would be profitable. Also the widget can be used to provide hard data for a financing proposal. Finally business owners can acquire important data that can improve their business, for example whether they are paying too much on rent or spending too few dollars on advertising than their competitors.

While this widget provides quality data, the business owner can relax knowing that the information is secure. No business owner ever finds out the identity from which the data is extrapolated. Each individual business owner’s data is anonymous. The widget will not provide all of the information that a business owner requires to make a decision, it does provide solid and objective information.

At St. Louis Accounting Services, we provide a full range of QuickBooks services. If one has questions about the widget or the QuickBooks Online package, please do not hesitate to call us at 314-718-0956 or email us at art@stlouisaccountingservices.com.

Every business has different needs when looking for a bookkeeper. However, some bookkeeping requirements are required regardless of the business type. One should consider the following qualities when one needs a bookkeeper:

Experience: Theexperience that a bookkeeper brings to one’s business is very important. One should not require a bookkeeper that has worked for the same type of business that is most like your business. This means that a small business could benefit from a bookkeeper that has worked for a large business. The bookkeeper would have a large scope of different responsibilities. Conversely, a bookkeeper who has worked a long time with one company may not be able to handle a startup company.

Education: One should consider the education level of the bookkeeper. The education should be more than a general business degree. The bookkeeper should stay informed of current bookkeeping issues such as payroll taxes and accounting software.

Accounting Procedures: The accounting procedures should be established at one’s business. Some examples are: receipt of cash and checks, how bills are paid, who reviews the work and how and when the books are closed. A good bookkeeper should comply with the company’s accounting procedures. In fact, the bookkeeper may have some good suggestions for one’s business based on past experiences.

Software and Systems: A bookkeeper should be able to use the most current accounting software. A bookkeeper should be able to use QuickBooks and third-party add-ons that bring additional functions to the experience. One example of a third-party add-on is Bill.com. The accounting software and third-party add-ons provides a seamless accounting program that operates in real time. A bookkeeper should be able to create these systems for one’s business.

Oversight: A bookkeeper should allow the business owner to concentrate on other areas of the business by managing and checking other accounting work that is finished. A bookkeeping service may offer built-in oversight for one’s business.

Banking Options: Another way a bookkeeper should stay current is to use online banking in conjunction with accounting software. Having constant access to financial data is very important in today’s business world. One’s bookkeeper should have access to financial information 24/7.

Cash Flow Management: Cash flow is very important to the survival of one’s business. A competent bookkeeper can advise one of your daily, weekly, and monthly cash flow requirements and will make one aware of any cash flow issues.

Tax Preparation: Another important area that a bookkeeper can assist in is tax preparation. A business should not just address the tax area during tax season. A bookkeeper can manage important documents and run reports that are beneficial during tax time. Having an organized accounting system running can be very beneficial at tax time at the end of the year. Finally, a bookkeeper should make one aware of any tax issues that arise during the year.

In conclusion, a good bookkeeper helps a business in many different areas. Bookkeeping can become complicated. At St. Louis Accounting Services, we offer full charge bookkeeping services. We use both QuickBooks desktop and QuickBooks Online. If one has questions about bookkeeping or would like to discuss our bookkeeping service, one may call 314-718-0956 or email us at art@stlouisaccountingservices.com. Contact us as soon as possible since bookkeeping affects many different areas in one’s business.

QuickBooks desktop has the ability to perform class tracking. What is class tracking? One can create classes that one can assign to transactions. A business owner may wish to divide his business up into segments. Some examples are: departments, location, separate properties, and any other meaningful breakdown of one’s business. By using the class tracking feature, one can create these segments and track their account balances on invoices, bills, and other documents.

Some advice on creating classes:

Create classes on the basis of what type of reporting, one wants to do, and consider how your business segments should appear on the reports.

Create a class as “other” to cover transactions that do not fit in any other class that one has defined.

Do not use classes for two different reasons: for example departments and locations.

One should consistently fill out the class information on financial transactions to ensure that the information stays valid and useful.

Now, I will discuss the class tracking reports.

The Profit and Loss by Class report shows the profit and loss by each segment that one tracks in QuickBooks.

The Profit and Loss Unclassified report shows the profit and loss from all unclassified transactions. This report is helpful to identify unclassified transactions in your company file.

The Balance Sheet by Class report shows the balance sheet of each part of your business that one tracks by class in QuickBooks.

In conclusion, the class tracking feature can help a business owner better manage each part of their business. At St. Louis Accounting Services, we offer a full range of QuickBooks services. If one has questions about class tracking or wishes to turn on class tracking in QuickBooks, one may call us at 314-718-0956 or email us at art@stlouisaccountingservices.com. Please contact us as soon as possible so that one can better manage their business

FROM THE OFFICES
St. Louis Accounting Services
314-690-4234art@stlouisaccountingservices.com

Revamp of interface improves usability, while new open platform streamlines integration with related solutions.

Since it was launched over a decade ago, QuickBooks Online has been easy to use. It’s been quicker and “lighter” than the desktop versions, thanks to its cloud-based platform and a feature set that was more limited than the software at the top of Intuit’s food chain.

Still, Intuit recently did a major overhaul of its online offering, and the results will be startling to anyone who has visited the site even once. Beyond being cleaner, leaner and more intuitive, this totally-rebuilt application sits on an open platform that readies it for users who want a state-of-the-art accounting solution that integrates seamlessly with the other web-based tools they use to run their businesses.

Those companies can access QuickBooks Online and its other business management systems from anywhere via a PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phone or tablet.

Figure 1: This is part of QuickBooks Online’s new dashboard, which draws your attention to the most pressing financial matters and provides a real-time overview of your finances.

A Good Start

You’ll most likely start your day on QuickBooks Online’s dashboard, its home page. Earlier versions of the application had a starting page, but it was overly busy and not as comprehensive as the new one. And it just didn’t incorporate today’s best web design.
As you move on to other elements of QuickBooks Online by clicking on the navigational tabs in the left pane, you’ll see this new emphasis on usability continued. Every screen has been rebuilt so that you’re not hunting around the page, looking for the rather small links to the tasks you want to do.

Figure 2: The new version of QuickBooks Online displays critical data clearly by using color and space skillfully.
If you just want to get in and create a quick transaction, you can click on the X at the top of the page, which opens a list of links to the most commonly-used ones. Two other links here take you to tools that you’re likely to use regularly. A small icon opens a window containing your most recent transactions. And the magnifying glass gives you access to QuickBooks Online’s Search function.
The new QuickBooks Online also pulls together links that used to be scattered throughout the site. You can easily get to these by clicking the small wheel icon in the upper right corner. From here, you can work with:

Settings (Company Settings, Chart of Accounts)

Lists (Products and Services, Recurring Transactions, etc.)

Tools (Import Desktop Data, Reconcile, Activity Log, etc.)

Your Company (Your Account, Manage Users, etc.)

This consolidation of important site functions will accelerate your workflow greatly. You use the tabs on the left side of the screen to do your actual accounting work, while all of your other “background” tasks are accessible through one icon.

Everything Under One Roof
Intuit calls QuickBooks Online a “global small business operating system” because of its new digital architecture. Services that were formerly add-ons, like Payroll and Payment Services, are now a part of the site itself. And because it’s built on an “open platform,” it will be easier for third-party developers to create applications that integrate smoothly with QuickBooks Online. Hundreds of these are already available in the Intuit App Center.

This is what cloud computing is all about. Rather than using individual desktop applications that may or may not be able to connect with related products, QuickBooks Online can serve as your core small business accounting solution. As you need more functionality, you don’t have to upgrade to a new version or move to a different software family altogether. You simply add an integrated application that can use the data you’re already storing in QuickBooks Online.
Do you have questions about whether QuickBooks Online can manage your company’s business functions? Worried about security or just want more information? Contact us.

1. Company Setup-QuickBooks and Sage 50 (Peachtree) – Create new company in QuickBooks or Sage 50 (Peachtree) Software-Setup Company information, preferences, chart of accounts, and basic financial reports

Sage 50 Complete Accounting controls cash flow, payments, and customer collections. It has custom reporting for budgeting, cash flow reporting, and to help set goals and measure results. It helps an organization get a complex view of their financial measurements. It tracks inventory, anticipated purchases, and increased service offerings. It helps decrease errors and discourage fraud with screen level security and a sound audit trail.

Next, Sage 50 Premium Accounting is more advanced than the previous accounting software. An organization can manage budgets and departments: it has dashboards that focus on key business statistics and that can change order processing. Change order processing means that one can change a purchase order or sales order on the fly. It has more advanced inventory features, can use serial numbers to manage warranty claims, recalls, and more. An organization can create and share meaningful reports with custom reporting tools.

Next, Sage 50 Quantum Accounting is useful for large organizations. It can handle between five to forty licensed users. An organization can design customized dashboards to manage important real time information and access it easily. One can stay current on their order process with automated workflows. It helps manage customers, inventory, and jobs with important management centers. It has industry- specific functionality and has custom reporting tools to create important reports. Sage 50 Quantum Accounting is for organizations that are large and have complex accounting needs.

Finally, Sage 50 Accounting by Industry fulfills specific accounting needs to the construction, distribution, manufacturing, and nonprofit organizations. Each version has functions and reporting specific to each industry. It also has the core accounting features that is required for each industry.

In conclusion, Sage 50 (formerly Peachtree) has various accounting software. It has different levels of accounting software for most organizations. An organization should select the software that fits their accounting needs. If you would like further information, or have questions, please sign up for a free consultation with St. Louis Accounting Services.

I would like to discuss the unique advantages of QuickBooks (QBO) Online. QuickBooks Online is responding to the wishes of business owners. Intuit (the creator of QuickBooks software) found in a survey in the fall of 2011 that 58% of business owners wanted to access business and financial records on- the- run. In the same survey, 63% use at least one online software product for their business needs. In addition, business owners expect to increase their application usage from 2 to 7 in 2012. Finally, 43% of all owners state that all their employees use mobile devices to work outside of the office.

QuickBooks Online has experience growth of 30% to 40% for several years.

Now, I would like to start showing some of the advantages of QuickBooks Online. It reduces workflow cost; by cloud computing, QuickBooks is available anytime and anywhere. It saves costs on data entry- the information is available on the Internet. It reduces the costs of meeting between the accountant and the business owner- travel time is eliminated, allowing the business owner to be more aware of the accountant’s workflow. The secured sharing is stronger- the infrastructure where the data is stored is similar to what the major banks use. The data is encrypted and the speed and productivity increases.

Large training manuals do not exist. The initial setup is faster. QuickBooks Online (QBO) offers automatic backup and upgrades. Business owners do not have to worry about backup files or the latest version of software. Finally, it is very affordable. The costs are subscription based. QBO support is free.

Also, having a software application manage your IT costs reduces the hardware, software, and people who are required to manage it all.

QuickBooks Online can serve the needs of various types of businesses. It has three versions:

1. QuickBooks Online Simple Start

2. QuickBooks Online Essentials

3. QuickBooks Online Plus

QuickBooks Online Simple Start is for business owners that are just starting. One can import customer data from Excel. One can create and manage bills. It measures sales and expenses. It has over twenty one-click business reports. It can handle one bank account or credit card account. It prints checks. It can only accommodate one user.

QuickBooks Online Essentials starts with all of the features of QBO Simple Start. It has automated invoicing, accounts payable, and estimates. It can handle payroll. It has over forty plus one-click business reports. It can manage unlimited downloaded transactions. One can have three users, and permission controls can be created.

QuickBooks Online Plus starts with all of the features of QBO Essentials. It offers for established businesses, time tracking, purchase orders, FIFO inventory management, and 1099 tax forms. It can manage sales tax. It has class and location functions. It has budgeting and planning tools. It has over sixty five plus business reports. One can have five users.

Finally, business owners can increase and grow the power of QuickBooks Online by adding applications (apps) from third party providers. QuickBooks Online handles all of the accounting needs of an organization. Apps can help with small business management. One does not have to reenter data and risk creating mistakes. Recently, Intuit created the Intuit Payment Network. It handles QBO invoices that have been emailed. One can pay them online by check or credit card. Finally, QuickBooks Online (QBO) changes every day since it is online.

In conclusion, QuickBooks Online (QBO) responds to the wishes of the business owner. It has several advantages and can serve the needs of many organizations. One can increase the power of QuickBooks Online (QBO) with business applications (apps).

This discussion gave a brief overview of QuickBooks Online (QBO). If one has questions or needs further information, please do not hesitate to contact St. Louis Accounting Services for a free consultation.